BURST
The Canadian woman found dead on an Australian beach surrounded by dingoes has been identified as a B.C. teen.
Police have not confirmed the woman’s identity, but Australian media reports identified her as Piper James, 19.
James attended high school in Campbell River, reported The Canadian Press, which talked to a friend of James.
Brianna Falk said she met James in English class three years ago.
“We had so many plans, and she was so young,” Falk told CP. “You never think that it is going to be somebody that you know, let alone one of your closest friends.”
A woman’s body was found on a beach at K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, around 6:35 a.m. Monday local time, said Queensland police.
Insp. Paul Algie said the woman was found by two men driving past the area who saw about 10 dingoes surrounding what they thought was an object.
Upon closer investigation, they learned it was a woman.
“I can confirm that the dingoes had physically been in contact with the body,” said Algie, the Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.
“There (were) markings on her body consistent with having been touched and interfered with by the dingoes.”
The cause of death has not yet been determined.
Until an autopsy is conducted, police said they cannot determine whether the woman drowned or died from a dingo attack.
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada told Postmedia it is aware of the death of a Canadian citizen in Australia.
“We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones,” the spokesperson said. “Canadian officials are providing consular assistance to the family.”
Algie told media James had gone for an early morning swim on Monday. She was found near the Maheno Shipwreck site, a popular tourist attraction on K’gari.
Australian media reported the woman worked at a backpacker hostel on K’gari, an island off of the coast of Queensland. She had been living and working on the island with a friend for six weeks, said Algie, according to news.com.au.
“(Her friend) is very traumatized. She’s been supported by her friends at the backpackers’ (hostel) where they were working,” he said.
About 200 dingoes roam free on K’gari, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest sand island.
The last confirmed dingo attack in Australia was in 2001 when a nine-year-old boy was mauled and killed by dingoes on K’gari.
With files from National Post